LINKS TO THE PORT MANTEAU OF HORROR

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Day 12 of the 30 Day Horror Challenge: Demons – They’re Not Just for Possessing Little Girls Anymore

Day 12 - Your favorite horror film involving the occult –

“What the hell happened to Rosemary?”

Demons

When I was finally able to read (and I assure you dear readers that that occurred at least ten years ago if not sooner) I began to discover movies in a little periodical called Fangoria. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Maybe you’ve actually read it. Most likely you’ve read it more in the last few years than I have, but we’re changing that one subscription at a time. When I went to Walden Books in the Hackettstown Mall (when there was a Walden Books and when there was a Hackettstown Mall) I was very much inclined to let me parents do their shopping at K-Mart while I would scrounge through the comic books, collectors guides and movie magazines. Most likely during this time I could be seen scouring the floor for loose, Penthouse subscription mailers to add to a grow collection of “almost porn” items…. Whoops… I’m afraid I have revealed too much. Back to Fangoria…

Demons 2 was featured in a particular issue that I was actually allowed to purchase (I haven’t as of yet firmed up which issue, but will do so I’m certain in a future Fango Fright Night entry… bwahahaha). I was fascinated by the man ripping off his “blue” face. I didn’t understand at all what plot device might reveal such a glorious still, but I knew I had to find it and fast. A trip to Long Valley Video, and we have our answer… a not so great sequel. We’re missing an important step though. Where was the classic Lamberto Bava/Dario Argento concoction that started it all? Not at my video store. The sequel was definitely there because I watched and was dreadfully confused by it. It made me very hesitant to see the first movie and one might speculate that I might not have gotten into Italian horror if my interest in this genre had been based on this sequel alone. I want to iterate here that I do not have a problem with Demons 2. I simply have a problem with not understanding it based on not having seen the original Demons.

Years will go by. I will not find Demons on a movie shelf until Video Plus (also in beautiful Hackettstown, NJ) somewhere around the eighth grade. I will watch Demons. I will love Demons. I will love its soundtrack and 80’s styling as much as I will like the rip ‘em up special effects and the stereotyped actors from every clique/walk of life. It’s almost like watching the breakfast club in Italy while somebody protractedly lifts up a nun’s habit and pinches her arse. I love every second of it. I will bring myself back to a time when I first watched its sequel and didn’t understand what exactly I was watching only to understand completely (still not having watched it since then I may want to do so sooner rather than later). What I’m trying to say is that it’s a great flick.

It’s my favorite horror film involving the occult probably because there are Demons being summoned via movie theatre/film viewing. Honorable mention for this day of horror would be Ninth Gate (which was so close to taking this entry that I almost want to include a YouTube clip to give it the proper respect). Hellraiser might even work. I might even really want to put Friday the 13th the Series in this slot if the series could be remotely entertained as a movie. I can’t wait to start reviewing that frickin’ show by the season somewhere later in this everlasting blogstopper.

Enjoy the soundtrack if you can find a complete version or if you can find yourself a phonograph. Until then take a gander at this bemusing selection from the bowels of the internet.

From the bowels and brains of American International to the rib cage and eye sockets of Amicus, Doc Terror will write your eyes shut from the prehistory to the post apocalypse of horror.Doc Terror is a contributor to The Liberal Dead and The Dead Air Podcast.